A Cozy Forest Venue, Private Vows by the Ocean, and Their Favorite People

Meet Michael and Liz
Their Vision & Planning Process
Permits and LNT in Washington
An Intimate Ceremony Among Loved Ones
Their Quiet Coastal Vow Exchange
Cost of this elopement
Advice from the Couple
Final Reflection
Photos From This Elopement

Michael and Liz’s wedding in Forks, Washington was a masterclass in intentional intimacy. Trading the pressure of a large celebration for something deeply personal, this couple created a day that reflected their laid-back personalities and introverted hearts. From their ceremony at the woodland sanctuary of Fern Acres to private vows exchanged on the wild shores of La Push, their celebration proved that the most meaningful weddings aren’t about impressing others—they’re about honoring the love story that brought you together.

Captured by Ashley Jones of Beginning and End Photo, their day unfolded as a perfect blend of garden romance and Pacific Northwest adventure, showing exactly why smaller celebrations often create the biggest impact.

Are you ready to elope? Explore our Washington Elopement Packages.

Meet Michael and Liz

Photography by Beginning and End Photo

Michael and Liz are the kind of couple you’d find “in a corner people watching” at any party, and that’s exactly how they like it. As self-described introverts who value authentic connection over grand gestures, they knew from the start that their wedding needed to reflect their genuine selves.

“Both Mike and I are introverts and do not like being the center of attention,” Liz shares, explaining how this fundamental understanding of themselves shaped every decision they made.

Their love story is built on quiet moments and shared adventures, so when it came time to plan their wedding, they refused to let tradition dictate their choices. Instead, they focused on what mattered most: celebrating with the people who had truly been part of their journey, in a setting that felt like home to their hearts.

Their Vision and Planning Process

Photography by Beginning and End Photo

Initially, Michael and Liz imagined a small elopement after a road trip from Colorado to the Pacific Northwest, with only their immediate families present. But when Michael mentioned he wanted his close college roommates there too, the couple pivoted toward a micro wedding.

That change led them to Fern Acres and to Ashley Jones of Beginning and End Photo, who offered an all-inclusive experience designed for intimate weddings.

“Planning our wedding was honestly a dream, and we have Ashley to thank for that,” Liz said. “We sent her a Pinterest board, hopped on a few Google Meets, and she handled the rest.”

They opted for an à la carte version of Ashley’s micro-wedding package — including photography, videography, florals, hair and makeup, and day-of coordination — while bringing in a cousin to officiate and selecting their own vendors for catering and dessert. The result was a seamless day where all they had to do was show up and be present.

Thinking about eloping? Here are 10 Reasons You Should Elope in 2025

Permits and LNT in Washington

Photography by Beginning and End Photo

One of the best parts about choosing Fern Acres was its built-in privacy.

“It’s a private venue, which means no permits or extra paperwork — just an intimate, secluded space surrounded by lush forest,” Ashley explained. That simplicity allowed Michael and Liz to fully focus on being present with their guests, without worrying about logistics.

But for their post-ceremony adventure to Second Beach in La Push — where they exchanged private vows along the shore — a National Park pass was required. And with that access came a deep sense of responsibility.

“Michael and Elizabeth were so intentional about this,” Ashley said. “They loved the idea of being in nature, but they didn’t want to disturb it. No big setups, just them, the ocean, and the words they wanted to say to each other.”

Practicing Leave No Trace (LNT) was second nature: they stayed on designated trails, packed out everything they brought, and left the beach exactly as they found it — wild, untouched, and sacred. That care for the landscape not only preserved its beauty, but also made their experience more meaningful.

Learn how to Leave No Trace during your elopement adventure

An Intimate Ceremony Among Loved Ones

Photography by Beginning and End Photo

Michael and Liz’s wedding began in the heart of the forest at Fern Acres, where 30 of their closest friends and family gathered to witness them exchange vows beneath the trees. The garden path Liz had dreamed about walking down since the early days of planning was finally beneath her feet — a moment that felt both grounding and surreal.

Their ceremony was heartfelt and full of meaningful touches.

“We still wanted to include some traditional elements,” Liz said, “like a seated dinner, cake cutting, and a first dance — but only the parts that felt true to us.”

Their first dance, set to “If We Were Vampires,” was one of the most emotional moments of the day.

“As soon as the music started, I started crying,” Liz remembered. “Mike actually stopped mid-dance to hand me a handkerchief that had belonged to his late grandfather.”

Even though they had rehearsed a whole routine, they ended up simply swaying together, soaking in the quiet magic of the moment. The forest surrounding them, the soft candlelight on the tables, and the people who knew them best created a celebration that felt effortless, warm, and entirely personal.

Thinking about eloping? Here are 10 reasons you should elope in 2025

Their Quiet Costal Vow Exchange

Photography by Beginning and End Photo

After the reception wound down, Michael and Liz slipped away for a short hike through the coastal forest to Second Beach in La Push. They swapped their dress shoes for hiking boots and Chacos, with Liz tossing her train over her shoulder and Mike carrying their vow books. The moody coastline, layered in mist and waves, was the perfect backdrop for their private vow exchange.

“We really wanted a moment that was just ours,” Liz shared. “Reading those vows privately gave us a second chance to slow down and connect without any nerves.”

With only the sound of the tide and the wind through the trees, they stood together on the shore, fully immersed in the moment. No distractions, no pressure; just the two of them, the ocean, and the words they had saved for each other.

It was a quiet, powerful way to close the day, and a memory they’ll carry with them always.

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Estimated Cost for This Elopement

Photography by Beginning and End Photo

Michael and Liz’s celebration proves that meaningful doesn’t have to mean expensive. Their total investment of approximately $17,300 included everything needed for a complete wedding experience:

Venue (6-hour time block): $4,200
All-inclusive package (photography, videography, florals, hair/makeup, day-of coordination): $10,600
Catering with plated service: $1,905
Cake: $415
Rentals (goblets, plates, silverware): $180

“The first one really came down to price. I am a graduate student and when we first started wedding planning, we were sticker shocked by how expensive weddings are,” Liz admits. “The idea of spending potentially over my yearly salary on one day wasn’t something we were super interested in doing.”

Their choice to prioritize what mattered most—professional documentation, beautiful florals, and excellent food—while eliminating unnecessary extras created a celebration that felt abundant without breaking the bank.

Learn more about elopement costs here

Advice From The Couple

Photography by Beginning and End Photo

Looking back, Michael and Liz wouldn’t change a thing, and they encourage other couples to be unapologetically intentional with their own plans.

“It’s okay to make it your own,” Liz said. “We didn’t follow all the traditions, and it still felt meaningful and complete.”

Their biggest advice? Prioritize the feeling you want your day to have, not just the logistics.

For Michael and Liz, that feeling started long before the ceremony. They invited loved ones to spend Memorial Day weekend with them, tucked away in a cozy riverside cabin near Olympic National Park. The days leading up to the wedding were filled with shared hikes, slow mornings, and quiet connection.

“We felt we were able to spend time with our guests in a way that we wouldn’t have if we had a larger wedding,” Liz said.

That ease and presence carried into the wedding day itself, a celebration free from stress or rushing, where every moment felt intentional and grounded.

Michael and Liz want other couples to know that small doesn’t mean “less than.” You can still include traditions and personal touches, like seated dinners, cake cutting, and formal dances, while creating a wedding that actually reflects your relationship.

“Don’t be afraid to lean into your personalities, even if it feels silly,” Liz advised. “We had beer koozies with a Twilight meme that I photoshopped Mike’s face onto, and I added songs from the Twilight soundtrack to our playlist.”

Even with those nods to Liz’s teenage obsession (Forks is, after all, the Twilight setting), the overall vibe stayed true to them.

“I stand by the statement that I didn’t have an intentional vampire-themed wedding,” Liz laughed, “but I also figured people would assume, so we might as well have some fun with it.”

So what do you say? Are you ready to elope?

We’d love to know, but more importantly, we’d love to help you with your elopement planning journey. Explore our favorite elopement packages to get started.

Final Reflection

Photography by Beginning and End Photo

Michael and Liz’s wedding stands as a beautiful reminder that the best celebrations honor the couple at their center. By choosing intimacy over spectacle and authenticity over tradition, they created a day that felt genuinely theirs from the first moment to the last dance.

Their first dance to “If We Were Vampires” became unexpectedly emotional when Liz began crying as the music started.

“Mike actually stopped mid dance to give me a handkerchief—this handkerchief actually belonged to his late grandfather,” she remembers. “Even though we practiced all our different twists and dips so much at home, we ended up just swaying together as we just soaked up that moment together.”

These unscripted moments—the tears, the handkerchief, the decision to simply sway instead of perform—captured the essence of what made their celebration so memorable.

Ready to elope but not set on Washington State? Check out the 25 Best Places to Elope Worldwide in 2025